Flooding of Punjab: Facts and Reactions

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Last week, Sikh charities from across the globe swung into action to provide much-needed aid relief following Punjab’s worst flooding in 40 years. Here we breakdown facts and reactions of the disaster.
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Areas Affected

More than 300 villages and over 4,000 hectares of crops have been flooded severely since approximately August 16th, mainly in the Ropar, Jalandhar and Ferozepur regions. In Jalandhar alone, over 50 villages and 30,000 acres of crops have been flooded. Other districts affected include Ludhiana and Kapurthala.

What happened?

The River Sutlej – one of the five giving Punjab its name – flooded following heavy rain and the deliberate discharge of water into it from the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Officials say that water behind the dam (which holds back 324 billion cubic feet of water) had exceeded the critical safety mark. Chairman of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), Devendra Kumar Sharma, gave a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday. He said: ‘Keeping in view of the safety of the dam, we had to resort to controlled release of water.’ Water was released from 16th August to 19th August in increasing amounts as heavy rain continued to fall. Previous water releases in May and June had brought the water level down to 1604 feet by June 25th , 76 feet below the critical mark of 1680 feet. By August 17th however, the water level had risen to 1,681.33 feet.

What have Punjab authorities said?

Surinder Paul, Regional Director of the India Meteorological Department, said that heavy rain fell in districts near to the dam on 18th August. This would result in a large amount of surface run-off straight into the reservoir and raising water levels rapidly.

This is not the first time that deliberate water discharge has caused destruction. In 1988, a deliberate discharge of water from the dam killed at least 1,500 people and caused the total destruction of entire villages.

Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh has asked the central government for a relief package worth ten billion Indian rupees (roughly £114 million). The Congress Chief Minister criticised the BJP central government for the water release, while Sharma hit back saying: ‘We released only 40,000 cusec of water downstream, the 2.40 lakh cusec received by Punjab from various rivulets near Ropar actually flooded the entire state.’ 40,000 cusec is a flow of approximately one million litres of water per second.

The Sikh Response

 

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As is the case with any international disaster, Sikh charities sprung into action almost immediately, including Sikh Relief (pictured above).

Your Seva Org, a Sikh aid charity that focuses specifically on Punjab (pictured in the main article image above), have stated the feeling on the ground is that there is a lack of ‘governmental support’ for those impacted, something echoed by images of Punjab locals remonstrating against what Indian government helicopters dropped off in some of the affected regions (see below).

Sikh charity Khalsa Aid International responded by sending teams of volunteers in Punjab to coordinate rescues and to provide food and water. They used boats to access flooded villages and stranded residents.

CEO and founder Ravi Singh issued a statement authorising the immediate release of £150,000 for initial aid relief. He gave a personal guarantee that ‘all funds raised for Panjab will be spent in Panjab’.

In Bolewal village, which flooded after a bank on the Sutlej burst, Khalsa Aid teams arrived after government officials – who visited and took pictures – did not attempt to repair the bank. Three Khalsa Aid teams arrived to assess what was needed and fill sandbags.

The charity has warned that ‘hundreds have gone missing and untraced in 500 villages in these floods.’ Ravi Singh also criticised the lack of media attention on the flooding in Punjab.


He tweeted: ‘We ARE assisting in floods across India. When places like Kerala are affected it’s news, why not Panjab?’


United Sikhs, another humanitarian organisation helping in Punjab, most recently stated ‘all drinking water is contaminated’ in the affected areas whilst also highlighting the need for cattle feed to help preserve Punjab’s livestock.

‘After surveying the region, the need for cattle feed became abundantly clear,’ said Balwinder Singh of U.S, leading one of the first-responder teams in the villages of Anandpur Sahib. ‘In the wake of such a widespread disaster, it is critical to assess the needs of both human and animal life, as the flood has severely affected the local ecosystem on a massive scale. All forms of drinking water are completely contaminated and villagers are resorting to selling their cattle because they are unable to feed them. Due to this pressing need, our volunteers continue to chop fresh cattle feed where available and include this in our humanitarian aid kits for local residents.’

How did this happen?

Many Sikhs are highlighting the fact that Sikh dissent against the state is heavily linked against a refusal to grant Punjab its own water-control rights, something highlighted in the documentary ‘Final Assault’, available to view online.

Many Sikhs feel there was at the least incompetence due to neglect of Punjab which led to the flooding from the Bakhra Dam release, with many claiming there was no warning for it either.

Social media activist page ‘Saving Punjab’ also released the video below for further insight into the issue.

Despite sadness at the impact of the flooding on Punjab, hearts have been warmed by the reaction of Sikhs with seva (selfless service) in their hearts, with the video below of langar (free communal kitchen) service going viral.

Sikh PA will be providing further updates on this situation as they come in.

 

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